Rendezvous Bay Hotel: Anguilla's Original Beachfront Escape
Barefoot history on two miles of powder-white sand
Why Go
Before Anguilla had villas and celebrity resorts, it had this ΓÇö a 29-acre stretch of Rendezvous Bay bought by Jeremiah and Lydia Gumbs in 1958 and opened as the island's very first beach resort. Staying here isn't just a holiday; it's checking into a piece of Anguillian history, with the calm turquoise of Rendezvous Bay literally steps from your door.
The Experience
The mood is old-school Caribbean in the best sense: unhurried, unpretentious, and utterly quiet. Rooms in the reopened beachfront section face straight out over one of the island's most beautiful bays, so you fall asleep to waves and wake to panoramic sea views across to St. Martin. There's no nightclub buzz or resort bustle ΓÇö just sea breezes, long morning swims in gentle, calf-deep water, and sunset walks along a beach that regularly ranks among the Caribbean's finest for strolling. Guests come here to unplug, read, float, and repeat.
What to Try
Claim a stretch of the two-mile beach early and walk it end to end at low light ΓÇö Rendezvous Bay is famously one of Anguilla's best walking beaches. Swim in the sheltered, glass-calm bay, then wander down the sand to the beach bars further along for grilled crayfish and rum punch. Ask about the property's history: the Gumbs family story is woven into Anguilla's 1967 revolution, and hearing it on-site is half the magic.
Insider Tip
Book a room in the restored beachfront block ΓÇö these are the ones with the picture-perfect views that make the stay. And don't drive to the beach bars along the bay; the barefoot walk down the sand to Dune Preserve or Sunshine Shack is the whole point, especially around sunset when the light on St. Martin's silhouette turns gold.
The Practical Stuff
Located off Pond Grove Road (Private Road 2640) on Anguilla's southwest coast, about 10 minutes' drive from Blowing Point ferry terminal and 15 from the airport. This is a simple, character-first hotel rather than a polished luxury resort ΓÇö expect authentic island charm over marble bathrooms. A rental car is handy for exploring, though the beach itself may keep you put. Confirm current room availability and rates directly with the hotel before travel, as sections of the historic property have reopened in phases.
Pair It With
- Dune Preserve — Bankie Banx's legendary driftwood beach bar is a barefoot walk along the same bay ΓÇö live music, rum punch, and pure Anguillian soul.
- Sunshine Shack — Garvey's bright-yellow grill shack on Rendezvous Bay serves ribs, crayfish, and killer rum punch right on the sand.
- ALAK ART GALLERY — A nearby stop for local Anguillian art ΓÇö an easy add-on for a low-key afternoon off the beach.